Copolymer solution consisting of acrylic resin, process for its manufacture and the use thereof in reactive lacquers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a special copolymer solution consisting of acrylic resin containing 70 to 90% by weight of copolymer solids and 10 to 30% by weight of solvent. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of the copolymers which are present in the copolymer solution; additionally, the invention relates to the use of the copolymer solution for the manufacture of coating compositions for lacquer systems of low solvent content which contain polyisocyanates and which contain the copolymer manufactured according to the invention as a resin component which carries hydroxyl groups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process forthe manufacture of the copolymer solutions and their use as a bindercomponent, the sheet-like structures which can be produced therefromhaving, however, considerably improved properties in various respects.This includes the property that a lacquer which contains the newcopolymer solutions in combination with organic polyisocyanates, whenapplied to a metallic substrate, after drying in the air for three tofour days at temperatures of about 20° C., should cure in such a waythat the film no longer swells under the action of water and also cannotbe removed mechanically by scratching, even if the film is exposed for abrief period to water at temperatures of 50°- 70° C.

It is also a further object of the present invention that the copolymersolutions of the invention, in combination with other copolymersolutions which are built up, as thermoplastic copolymers, from a basisof lower alkyl methacrylates and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid,should make it possible to manufacture coating agents which dry at roomtemperature, by physical means, by solvent evaporation, to give filmswhich have outstanding properties.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an acrylic resinwhich contains hydroxyl groups and which, in combination withpolyisocyanates, provides the binder basis for air-drying lacquers andstoving lacquers which are suitable for top lacquering in the automobileindustry, the lacquer being present after stoving in layer thicknessesof about 40 to 80 μm and the top lacquer being located directly on topof the stoved primer of electrocoating lacquer.

In the modern methods of the present time for lacquering motor vehiclesin an automobile factory, the coachwork parts are usually provided,after phosphating, with a primer of electrocoating lacquer and this isstoved to give a plastic coating. A spraying lacquer or a coatingcomposition, which is generally designated a filler, is then applied tothis plastic coating, usually by a spraying process, and stoving iscarried out again.

The automobile lacquer formulation which contains pigment is thenapplied, in the desired pigmentation, to this two-layer coat of lacqueror primer by spraying and the automobile body is stoved again.

The whole coating, which, an explained above, consists of three layers,has a layer thickness after stoving of 70- 100 μm, the fraction relatingto the outer layer of top lacquer being 30 to 40 μm. In the course ofrationalisation methods in the automobile industry efforts are beingmade to change over from the three-layer system to a two-layer build-up.In this, the electrocoat lacquering or another equivalent primer isintended to form the first coating layer and thereafter the final coatof lacquer is intended to be built up by means of the pigmented lacquer,but the total thickness of the layers applied is intended to have, intotal, the same layer thickness. Using the conventional automobile toplacquers, however, it is not possible, in the customary spraying andstoving treatment, to produce, from lacquer formulations containingpigment, coatings which, after drying in the air or after stoving, givelacquer films which are completely uniform (that is to say free fromso-called curtaining and free from craters and blisters).

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an acrylic resin whichcontains hydroxyl groups and which, in combination with polyisocyanates,provides the binder basis for air-drying lacquers and stoving lacquerswhich are suitable for top lacquering in the automobile industry, thelacquer being present, after stoving, in layer thicknesses of about 40to 80 μm and the top lacquer being located directly on top of the stovedprimer of electrocoating lacquer. In addition, the copolymers accordingto the invention, and also the coating/binder combinations consisting ofthe copolymers according to the invention and the polyisocyanates,should be miscible and compatible with thermoplastic copolymers whichare soluble in organic solvents. The use of the thermoplastic copolymersmakes possible rapid drying, especially when used as a repair lacqueringin order to touch up defective coats of lacquer. In such cases tack-freedrying at room temperature within 5 to 10 minutes is required and thedesired resistance to premium-grade motor fuels is met by means of thenew binder combinations after a drying time of only one hour.

A further particular advantage resides in the fact that, for example, itis also possible partially to touch up after final assembly a lacqueredautomobile body on which painting defects still need to be touched up,if the reactive lacquer applied consists of a binder combination of thecopolymers manufactured according to the invention and polyisocyanates.The touching up can be carried out on the partially or completelycross-linked binder combinations. With the binder combinations which areenvisaged as a touching-up lacquer and which consist of 20 to 80% byweight, preferably 40 to 60% by weight of copolymers manufacturedaccording to the invention and 80 to 20% by weight, preferably 60 to 40%by weight of thermoplastic copolymers, no differences in colour shadeare found between the partially or completely cross-linked reactivelacquer and the touching-up lacquer, provided that the same pigments areemployed, in terms of quantity and type.

In addition, the copolymer solutions according to the invention, whichhave a lower viscosity, exhibit a better absorption of pigment both whenusing inorganic pigments, such as, for example, titanium dioxide, orwhen using organic pigments, such as, for example, carbon black. Whentitanium dioxide is used as the pigment, the copolymers manufacturedaccording to the invention, and also the reactive lacquer manufacturedtherefrom, still give high-gloss films at a pigment/binder ratio of 1.5to 2:1, while the known copolymers and the known reactive lacquersmanufactured therefrom show a distinct falling-off in gloss at the samelevel of pigmentation. In addition, it has been found that thecopolymers manufactured according to the invention and the reactivelacquers manufactured therefrom produce high-gloss lacquers with carbonblack, while the known copolymers and the reactive lacquers manufacturedtherefrom exhibit matt films at the same level of pigmentation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a process for themanufacture of soluble organic copolymers which are produced as asolution having a solids content of 70 to 90% by weight, the copolymersolutions which have been formulated ready for spraying having at 25° C.a viscosity of 25 seconds, measured in a DIN cup with a four mm floworifice, and a solids content of 40 to 65% by weight, preferably 45 to65% by weight. The copolymer solutions manufactured according to theinvention thus take account of the demands made by environmentalprotection for binders of high solids content and low solvent content.

The outstanding advantage of the copolymer solutions manufacturedaccording to the invention resides in the fact that it is possible forthe hydroxyl groups of the copolymers to crosslink with polyisocyanatesat room temperature and also at elevated temperatures and to producelacquers of high solids content, in a condition formulated ready forspraying, at a viscosity of 40 seconds, measured at 25° C. in a DIN cuphaving a four mm flow orifice, and at a solids content of 61 to 80% byweight, preferably 65 to 80% by weight in the clear lacquer.

(2) Prior Art

Numerous proposals have been disclosed to manufacture solvent-resistantand alkali-resistant lacquers by reacting polyisocyanates and copolymerscontaining hydroxyl groups and to convert them into coatings. DT-AS1,247,006 describes a process for the manufacture by the polyisocyanatepolyaddition process of alkali-resistant sheet-like structures which areobtained from polyisocyanates and copolymers containing hydroxyl groups,but which are not adequately water-resistant after a reaction time ofthree to four days at 20° C. These coatings obtained by this knownprocess are, therefore, not suitable as top lacquers for externallacquerings which are resistant to weathering, since blistering takesplace after a very short time and the adhesion of the lacquer to thevarious metallic substrates falls off and, as a result, the lacquercomes away from the substrate.

It is also known that polyhydroxyl compounds of polyols can be curedwith polyisocyanates in order to obtain crosslinked lacquer coatingswith good resistance properties. These combinations also exhibit too lowa resistance to water and a lower resistance to weathering of the curedlacquer films.

French Patent No. 1,556,309 describes a coating agent which containssolvent and, as the film-forming constituents, A. a copolymer consistingof (1) 2- 50 parts by weight of an addition product with a 1:1 ratio ofa carboxyl group of an α ,β-ethylenically unsaturated acid and anepoxide group of a glycidyl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid havingtertiary C atoms, in which the aliphatic tertiary group contains 4- 26 Catoms, and (2) 98- 50 parts by weight of unsaturated, copolymerisablemonomers, the total quantity of (1) and (2) adding up to 100 parts byweight, and B. at least one polyisocyanate which contains at least 2isocyanate groups in its molecule, the polyisocyanate being present,relative to the copolymer, in a quantity of 0.2- 5 equivalents relativeto the hydroxyl groups of the copolymer.

As the Examples in this French Patent Specification show, copolymersolutions are obtained which have a solids content of only 48 to 52%.The content of hydroxyl groups in Examples 1 to 10 is 0.8 to 3.18% byweight in the known copolymers.

In Example 1= 0.8% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 2= 1% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 3= 1.26% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 4= 1.52% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 5= 1.41% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 6= 1.41% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 7= 1.66% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 8= 1.85% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 9= 1.85% of hydroxyl groups in Example 10= 3.18% of hydroxylgroups.

If the procedure indicated in French Patent No. 1,556,309 is thenfollowed, and the hydroxyl group content in the copolymers is increased,the viscosity is also increased. If the viscosity is reduced by dilutionwith xylene to 25 seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mmflow orifice, the solids content of the copolymer solutions alsodecreases.

It cannot, however, be inferred from French Pat. No. 1,556,309 that isis possible, by selecting certain solvents and a certain range ofquantities of a combination of various polymerisable monomers and usinga combination of initiators, to manufacture copolymer solutions whichhave a substantially higher solids content and which open up the use ofthe new copolymers as binders for lacquer systems which are based onacrylates and have a low solvent content.

The particular advantage of the copolymer solutions manufacturedaccording to the invention resides in the fact that the viscositydecreases when the hydroxyl group content in the copolymers isincreased. When diluted with xylene to a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25°C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, the solids contentof the copolymer solutions manufactured according to the invention isthen increased.

It has been found, surprisingly, that the copolymers which have beenmanufactured according to the invention and which have a hydroxyl groupcontent of 3.5 to 6.5, preferably 4.5 to 5.5,%, lead to lowerviscosities than do the known copolymers of the same hydroxyl groupcontent. Thus, when dissolved to form a 70% strength by weight solutionin ethylglycol acetate, the copolymer solutions manufactured accordingto the invention have viscosities of U to Z₄, preferably X to Z₃,measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale at 20° C. Proof of this statement isafforded by a comparison between the copolymer solution manufacturedaccording to the invention in Example 1 and the known comparisoncopolymers 3 and 4. As 70% strength by weight solutions in ethylglycolacetate, the comparison copolymers 3 and 4 lead to higher viscositieswhich are higher than Z₆, measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale at 20° C.

Compared with the known copolymers, the copolymers manufacturedaccording to the invention display the following advantages in thecombination with polyisocyanates: better solvent-resistance, higherabrasion resistance and better resistance to weathering in the Floridaclimate. In addition, in the combination with polyisocyanates, thecopolymers manufactured according to the invention produce lacquers of ahigher solids content, having a solids content of 61 to 80% by weight,preferably of 65 to 80% by weight, in the clear lacquer, when dilutedwith acetone, xylene or butyl acetate to a viscosity of 40 seconds at25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice. When suchclear lacquers or pigmented lacquers are applied by spraying to steelsheets and are exposed to the air for a short time and subsequentlystoved, high dry film layer thicknesses of 70 to 80 μm are obtained,which do not exhibit crater formation or blistering. The known lacquercombinations which are described in French Patent No. 1,556,309, onlyproduce a solids content of 10 to 60% by weight in the clear lacquerwhen diluted with acetone, butyl acetate or xylene to a viscosity of 40seconds at 25° C. When such clear lacquers or pigmented lacquers areapplied by spraying to steel sheets and are exposed to the air for ashort time and subsequently stoved, lower dry film thicknesses of 40 to50 μm are obtained, which in addition also exhibit crater formation andblistering.

SUMMARY

The subject of the invention is a copolymer solution consisting of (A)10 to 30% by weight of inert organic solvents which are customary in thelacquer industry, and (B) 70 to 90% by weight of copolymers which havebeen manufactured by heating to 150° to 180° C., in the presence ofmixtures of diacyl peroxides or peresters and alkyl hydroperoxides ordialkyl peroxides as the polymerisation initiators, a mixture of inertsolvents having a boiling range of 150° to 180° C. and the component tobe esterified, that is to say (a) 5-24% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃, with the slow, uniform addition of (b) 12-30% byweight of hydroxyethyl acrylate and/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c)1-10% by weight of acrylic acid, (d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene and(d₂) 5-35% by weight of methyl methacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁and d₂ having been employed in such quantities that their sum adds up to100% by weight and the polymerisation and condensation reactionsproceeding simultaneously and jointly and the additional conditionapplying that the components a, b and c have been employed in suchquantities that the copolymers have a hydroxyl group content of 3.5 to6.5% by weight, it being necessary that the components A and B add up to100% by weight.

The copolymers first mentioned are characterised in that a 70% strengthby weight solution of copolymer in ethylglycol acetate has a viscosity,measured at 25° C., of U to Z₄ on the Gardner-Holdt scale and a solutionformulated with xylene to a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., with aDIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, has a solids content of 40 to 65% byweight. The preferred embodiment of the copolymer solution ischaracterised in that a 70% strength by weight solution of copolymer inethylglycol acetate has a viscosity, measured at 25° C., of X to Z₃ onthe Gardner-Holdt scale and a solution formulated with xylene to aviscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., with a DIN cup having a 4 mm floworifice, has a solids content of 45 to 65% by weight.

A special embodiment of the copolymer solution is characterised in thata 70% strength by weight solution of the copolymer in ethylglycolacetate has a viscosity, measured at 25° C., of Z₂ to Z₃ on theGardner-Holdt scale, and a solution formulated with xylene to aviscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measured by means of a DIN cup havinga 4 mm flow orifice, has a solids content of 47% by weight.

A preferred embodiment of the copolymer solution is characterised inthat it consists (A) 20 to 25% by weight of inert organic solvents whichare customary in the lacquer industry, and (B) 75 to 80% by weight ofcopolymers which have been manufactured by heating to 150° to 180° C.,in the presence of mixtures of tert.-butyl perbenzoate and cumenehydroperoxide as the polymerisation initiators, a mixture of inertsolvents having a boiling range of 150° to 180° C. and the components tobe esterified, that is to say (a) 11-12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃, with theslow, uniform addition of (b) 25-26% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylateand/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c) 3-4% by weight of acrylic acid,(d₁) 44-48% by weight of styrene and (d₂) 10-16% by weight of methylmethacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ having been employed insuch quantities that their sum adds up to 100% by weight and thepolymerisation and condensation reactions proceeding simultaneously andjointly and the additional condition applying that the components a, band c have been employed in such quantities that the copolymers have ahydroxyl group content of 4.5± 0.3% by weight, it being necessary thatthe components A and B add up to 100% by weight.

A further subject of the invention is a process for the manufacture, inorganic solvents, of copolymers which are soluble in organic solvents bycopolymerisation of alkyl acrylates, hydroxyalkyl acrylates, styrene andan α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid with simultaneous esterification byglycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/orα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids, by heating in the presence ofpolymerisation initiators, characterised in that a mixture consisting of(A) 10 to 30% by weight of inert organic solvents which are customary inthe lacquer industry and (B) 90 to 70% by weight of a reaction mixtureconsisting of the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ is reacted, the inertorganic solvent and the components to be esterified, that is to say (a)5-24% by weight of glycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acidsand/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empiricalformula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ ⁺), being heated to 165° to 180° C. and amixture consisting of (b) 12-30% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylateand/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c) 1-10% by weight of acrylic acid,(d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene and (d₂) 5-35% by weight of methylmethacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ being employed in suchquantities that their sum adds up to 100% by weight, being added slowlyand uniformly, in the presence of mixtures of diacyl peroxides orperesters and alkyl hydroperoxides or dialkyl peroxides as thepolymerisation initiators, and, in the course thereof, the temperaturebeing kept between 165° C. at the start and 180° C. at the end, untilthe solids content of the solution has reached the theoretical value ofbetween 70 and 80% by weight, the polymerisation and condensationreactions proceeding simultaneously and jointly and the additionalcondition applying that the components a, b and c are employed in suchquantities that the copolymers have a hydroxyl group content of 3.5 to6.5% by weight.

A preferred embodiment of the process is characterised in that a mixtureconsisting of (A) 10 to 25% by weight of ethylglycol acetate and (B) 90to 75% by weight of a reaction mixture consisting of the components a tod₂ is reacted, the component to be esterified, that is to say (a) 10-24%by weight of glycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/orα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃

The most preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a process inwhich a mixture consisting of (A) 15-25% by weight of ethylglycolacetate and (B) 85-75% by weight of a reaction mixture consisting of thecomponents a to d₂ is reacted, the component to be esterified, that isto say (a) 10-24% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₃ H₂₄ O₃

A preferred embodiment of the process of the invention is characterisedin that a mixture consisting of (A) 20 to 25% by weight of inert organicsolvents which are customary in the lacquer industry and (B) 75 to 80%by weight of a reaction mixture consisting of the components a, b, c, d₁and d₂ is reacted, the inert organic solvent and the components to beesterified, that is to say (a) 11-12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃

A further preferred embodiment of the process of the invention ischaracterised in that a mixture consisting of (A) 20-25% by weight ofethylglycol acetate and (B) 75-80% by weight of a reaction mixture ofthe components a to d₂ is reacted, the component to be esterified, thatis to say (a) 11-12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₃ H₂₄ O₃

The invention also relates to the use of the new copolymers for themanufacture of reactive lacquers.

When the new copolymers are used in reactive lacquers, the components A'and B' are preferably used in the following quantities: (A') 60-80% byweight of copolymers which contain hydroxyl groups and have beenmanufactured according to the invention and (B') 20-40% by weight of anorganic polyisocyanate, it being necessary that (A') and (B') togetheradd up to numerical values of 100% by weight.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the use comprises: (A') 63-68% byweight of copolymers which contain hydroxyl groups and have beenmanufactured according to the invention and (B') 32-37% by weight of anorganic triisocyanate which has been obtained by reacting 3 mols ofhexamethylene diisocyanate and 1 mol of water, it being necessary thatA' and B' add up to numerical values of 100% by weight.

In a further use of the new copolymers in coating agents which dry byphysical means in the air, these copolymers are employed in quantitiesof (A') 20-80% by weight of copolymers which contain hydroxyl groups andhave been manufactured according to the invention and (B") 80-20% byweight of a thermoplastic copolymer manufactured from 98-99.5% by weightof methyl methacrylate and/or ethyl methacrylate and 0.5-2% by weight ofmethacrylic acid or acrylic acid, it being necessary that the componentsadd up to 100% by weight.

The thermoplastic copolymers (B") are manufactured by dissolving themonomers in aromatic solvents, such as, for example, benzene, toluene orxylene, and heating the mixture to a temperature of 60° to 120° C.,preferably 80° to 100° C., and adding the polymerisation initiator, forexample dibenzoyl peroxide or tert.-butyl peroctoate or tert.-butylperbenzoate, preferably dissolved in aromatic solvents, to the mixtureof monomers in the course of about 1 to 5 hours, preferably 2 to 4hours, and carrying out polymerisation at 80° to 100° C. Polymerisationis carried out here to give a solids content of 40 to 55% by weight. Theproportion of peroxide is 0.4 to 1% by weight, relative to the mixturesof monomers employed. The thermoplastic copolymers, which are present,dissolved in toluene or mixtures of xylene and n-butanol, as 40%strength by weight solutions, have viscosities of W-Z₅ at 25° C. on theGardner-Holdt scale.

Surprisingly, the copolymers manufactured according to the inventionalso provide the good compatibility with thermoplastic copolymers whichis required. On the other hand, the known copolymer solutions exhibit nocompatibility with thermoplastic copolymers. The particular advantage ofthe compatibility of the copolymer solution (A'), manufactured accordingto the invention, with the thermoplastic copolymers (B") resides in thefact that it is possible to touch up blemishes in a finished coat oflacquer after final assembly of, for example, a finished automobilebody, it being intended that the coating agent according to theinvention, which consists of the copolymers manufactured according tothe invention and polyisocyanates, should be overlacquered. When bindercombinations consisting of 20 to 80% by weight, preferably 40 to 60% byweight, of copolymer manufactured according to the invention and 80 to20% by weight, preferably 60 to 40% by weight, of a thermoplasticcopolymer are used, outstandingly rapid and tack-free drying resultswithin 5 to 10 minutes at approx. 20° C. After a drying time of afurther hour at 20° C., coats of lacquer with a hard surface areobtained which are resistant to premium grade motor fuels.

The organic solvents which are customary in the lacquer industry, suchas, for example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone orcyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, glycol monomethylether-acetate, glycol monoethyl ether-acetate, glycol monobutylether-acetate, acetoacetic acid methyl ester, acetoacetic acid ethylester, acetoacetic acid butyl ester, benzene, toluene, xylene and/oraromatic solvent mixtures having a boiling range of 150° to 200° C., areused, individually or as mixtures, as the component A.

Organic solvents, individually or as mixtures, which have a boilingrange of 150° to 200° C. are preferred. These include, for example,ethylglycol acetate, acetoacetic acid methyl ester, acetoacetic acidethyl ester and aromatic solvent mixtures having a boiling range of 150°to 180° C. Ethylglycol acetate is particularly suitable in themanufacture of the copolymers according to the invention. It can beremoved, partly or wholly, by distillation and can be replaced bylow-boiling solvents which have a better solubility for the copolymersaccording to the invention. Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyketone, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate are particularly suitable forthis purpose.

5 to 24, preferably 10 to 24, % by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ are used,individually or as mixtures, as the component a. The empirical formulaC₃ H₅ O applies to the glycidyl radical in the glycidyl esters of theα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids. The mixtures of α-alkylalkanoic acids and α,α-dialkylalkanoicacids represent monocarboxylic acids which contain a C₉, C₁₀ and C₁₁chain. The manufacturing processes for the manufacture of theα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids mentioned in the preceding text arebased on the pioneering work of Dr. H. Koch of the Max-Planck-Institutfur Kohlenforschung in Muhlheim, Federal Republic of Germany. The acidsare completely saturated and are very highly substituted on the carbonatom in the α-position. Acids which have two hydrogen atoms on theα-carbon atom are not present and only 6-7% of these acids contain ahydrogen atom. Cyclic material is also present (Deutsche FarbenZeitschrift, No. 10, Year 16, page 435). It is preferable to employα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids which have been obtained by reacting propylene trimer, carbonmonoxide and water and which consist almost exclusively ofmonocarboxylic acids having highly branched C₁₀ chains. The empiricalformula of the glycidyl ester compound is C₁₃ H₂₄ O₃.

12 to 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylate and/or hydroxyethylmethacrylate are employed as the component b. Hydroxyethyl acrylateimparts high elasticity to the copolymers. This is particularly requiredin cases where the metal substrates are shaped by an impact process. Afurther outstanding property of hydroxyethyl acrylate in the copolymersaccording to the invention consists in promoting the wetting of thepigment, especially in the case of organic pigments and carbon black.Hydroxymethyl methacrylate imparts to the copolymers according to theinvention a particularly high film hardness, which is particularlyrequired when formulating polyisocyanate reactive clear lacquers intwo-coat metal effect lacquering.

18 to 26% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylate are used particularlypreferentially as the component b, since particularly low viscositieslead to a high solids content in the condition ready for spraying.

1 to 10% by weight of acrylic acid, preferably 2 to 9% by weight ofacrylic acid, are employed as the component c.

20 to 50% by weight of styrene, when gives second order transitiontemperatures of about 100° C. as a homopolymer and can thus be regardedas a so-called hard monomer which imparts the desired film hardness tothe copolymers according to the invention, are employed as the componentd₁.

5 to 30% by weight of methyl methacrylate, preferably 10 to 35% byweight, are employed as the component d₂. As a copolymerisationcomponent, methyl methacrylate imparts to the copolymers according tothe invention a particularly high resistance to weathering, especiallyin weathering tests in the Florida climate.

Peroxide mixtures consisting of at least two peroxides are used as thepolymerisation initiators in the manufacture of the copolymers accordingto the invention. The peroxide mixtures have various chemicalcompositions. Peroxides of the first group e are represented by diacylperoxides, such as dibenzoyl peroxide, or peresters, such as tert.-butylperbenzoate, tert.-butyl peroctoate or tert.-butyl perisononanate.Peroxides of the second group 3' are represented by alkylhydroperoxides, such as tert.-butyl hydroperoxide and cumenehydroperoxide, or dialkyl peroxides, such as di-tert.-butyl peroxide ordicumyl peroxide. The peroxide mixtures used are in each case 1 to 3.5%by weight of a peroxide from the first group e and 1 to 3% by weight ofa peroxide from the second group, relative to 100% by weight of thecomponents a, b, c, d₁ and d₂.

The following combinations of peroxides from groups one and two areemployed: dibenzoyl peroxide/tert.-butyl hydroperoxide; dibenzoylperoxide/cumene hydroperoxide; dibenzoyl peroxide/dicumyl peroxide;tert.-butyl perbenzoate/butyl hydroperoxide; tert.-butyl perbenzoate/cumene hydroperoxide; tert.-butyl perbenzoate/di-tert.-butyl peroxide;tert.-butyl perobenzoate/dicumyl peroxide; tert.-butylperoctoate/tert.-butyl hydroperoxide; tert.-butyl peroctoate/cumenehydroperoxide; tert.-butyl peroctoate/di-tert.-butyl peroxide;tert.-butyl peroctoate/dicumyl peroxide; tert.- butylperisononanate/tert.-butyl hydroperoxide; tert.-butylperisononanate/cumyl hydorperoxide; tert.-butylperisononanate/di-tert.-butyl peroxide; or tert.-butylperisononanate/dicumyl peroxide.

The following combinations of peroxides are included in the preferredembodiment: dibenzoyl peroxide/cumene hydroperoxide; dibenzoylperoxide/di-tert.-butyl peroxide; tert.- butyl peroctoate/cumenehydroperoxide; tert.-butyl peroctoate/di-tert.-butyl peroxide;tert.-butyl perbenzoate/cumene hydroperoxide; and tert.-butylperbenzoate/di-tert.-butyl peroxide. Peroxide mixtures which contain,relative to 100% by weight of the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂, thecomponent e having 1.5 to 2.5% by weight of tert.-butyl perbenzoate ande' having 1 to 1.5% by weight of cumene hydroperoxide, dissolved to forman 80% strength solution in a mixture of alcohols, ketones and cumene,are the most preferred embodiment. It is found, surprisingly, that, inthe most preferred embodiment of the peroxide mixtures and in the mostpreferred embodiment of the copolymer solution, 75 to 85% strength byweight copolymer solutions in ethylglycol acetate are obtained whichdisplay a viscosity at 25° C. of X- Z₃ on the Gardner-Holdt scale as a70% strength by weight solution in ethylglycol acetate, and display asolids content of 45 to 65% by weight when an 80% strength by weightsolution in ethylglycol acetate is diluted with xylene to a viscosity of25 seconds, measured at 25° C. in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice.

The peroxide mixutres are generally dissolved in the monomers or areadded separately to the polymerisation medium, the solvent or thesolvent mixtures. In some cases it is also possible to dissolve smallproportions of the peroxide mixtures, up to 20% by weight of thequantity of peroxides employed, in the solvent of the solvent mixturesand to add uniformly the residual quantity of the peroxide mixtures,separately from the monomers or dissolved in the latter, to thepolymerisation medium, solvent or solvent mixture. It provesparticularly suitable to dissolve the tert.-butyl perbenzoate of theperoxide mixtures in the monomers and to add uniformly the mixtureswhich have been prepared, within a time of 6 to 10 hours, to thepolymerisation and condensation medium consisting of the solvent orsolvent mixture and the glycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids and/or or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids. The optimumlowering of viscosity, which leads to the copolymers according to theinvention, is achieved by this means. The reaction of the acrylic acidwith the glycidyl esters of α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acidsproceeds approximately according to the following formula: ##STR1## Thereaction between the carboxyl and the glycidyl groups is carried outunder the conditions of 0.95 to 1.1 mols of acrylic acid per mol ofglycidyl esters of α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of thefollowing empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ ^(O) ₃, having an epoxideequivalent of 240-250. The acid number of the copolymers is 5 to 12 andis made up by excess acrylic acid and by the organic acids formed as ascission product in the decomposition of peroxides, which acidity is tobe regarded as extraneous acid. The hydroxyl group content of thecopolymers is 3.5 to 6.5, perferably 4 to 5.5, % by weight. The contentof hydroxyl groups in the copolymers is calculated by means of thefollowing formula: ##EQU1## Thus, the reaction product formed from 1 molof acrylic acid, which corresponds to 72 g of acrylic acid, and from 1mol of glycidyl esters of α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of thefollowing empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ having an average epoxideequivalent of 245 and corresponding to 245 g of glycidyl esters, gives amolecular weight of 317. Under the conditions of an equivalentconversion, for 10 g of the glycidyl ester mentioned in the precedingtext the result is 2.94 g of acrylic acid, which corresponds to a sampleweight of 12.94 g of the compound containing hydroxyl groups. Thefollowing numerical expression then applies to the formula set out inthe preceding test: ##EQU2## The other compounds which contain hydroxylgroups have the following molecular weights: hydroxyethyl acrylatemolecular weight 116 and hydroxyethyl methacrylate molecular weight 130.The following percentages of OH result for 26% by weight of hydroxyethylacrylate in accordance with the following numerical expression: ##EQU3##The sum of both compounds containing hydroxyl groups, the reactionproduct from glycidyl ester and acrylic acid as well as hydroxyethylacrylate, gives a hydroxyl group content of 4.5% of OH.

If the conditions are maintained so that the components a, b and c areemployed in such quantities that the copolymers have a hydroxyl groupcontent of 3.5 to 6.5% by weight, preferably 4 to 5.5% by weight, thecomponents a and b should be adjusted to the component c in such a waythat the desired hydroxyl group content is achieved.

This means that when smaller percentages by weight of the components aand b are employed, higher percentages by weight of the component c mustbe selected in order to manufacture the copolymers according to theinvention. If higher percentages by weight of the components a and b areemployed, smaller percentages by weight of the component c must beselected in order to manufacture the copolymers according to theinvention.

The starting point in this approach must always be that the copolymersaccording to the invention are intended to produce as high a solidscontent as possible, the relevant test viscosity being the dilution ofthe copolymer solutions with xylene to a flow viscosity of 25 seconds at25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice.

The copolymers according to the invention are manufactured by heating amixture of the solvents or solvent mixtures, which preferably have aboiling range of 150° to 180° C., and the glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids, dissolved in the solvent, to 165° to 180° C. in a reaction flask.The mixtures of monomers a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ and the peroxide mixtures eand e' are added to this heated mixture in the reaction flask separatelyor, preferably, together, slowly, uniformly and over a period of time of6 to 10 hours, the polymerisation temperature not being allowed to fallbelow 165° C. After the addition of manomer and peroxide, polymerisationis continued for a further 2 to 3 hours at reflux temperature until thesolids content of the solution has reached the theoretical value ofbetween 70 and 90% by weight. The copolymers manufactured according tothe invention must have the predetermined test viscosity of X to Z₄,measured on the GardnerHoldt scale, for 70% strength by weight copolymersolutions in ethylglycol acetate. The copolymers are manufacturedsubject to the condition that the polymerisation and condensationreactions proceed simultaneously and jointly at 165° to 180° C.

These new copolymers can be used as the component A in reactive lacquerstogether with a polyisocyanate component B. The followingpolyisocyanates can, for example, be employed as the component B.Ethylene diisocyanate, propylene diisocyanate, tetramethylenediisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 1,3-dimethylbenzenediisocyanate, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane diisocyanate,1-methylcyclohexane-2,4-diisocyanate,4,4'-methylene-bis(cyclohexyl-diisocyanate), phenylene diisocyanate,2,4-toluylene diisocyanate, naphthylene diisocyanate,3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate, lysinediisocyanate, triphenylmethane triisocyanate,trimethylbenzene-2,4,6-triisocyanate,1-methylbenzene-2,4,6-triisocyanate and diphenyl-2,4,4'-triisocyanate;diisocyanates or triisocyanates manufactured by reacting apolyisocyanate with a low-molecular diol or triol (for example ethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, neopentyl glycol,2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, hexanediol, trimethylolpropane ortrimethylolethane); and cyanurates which have been obtained by reactingthe said diisocyanates with the formation of a ring. A particularlyvaluable polyisocyanate is the triisocyanate containing biuret groupswhich is obtained by reacting 3 mols of hexamethylene diisocyanate andone mol of water.

Instead of the polyisocyanates, it is also possible to use compoundswhich split off polyisocyanates, and also the reaction products,containing isocyanate groups, of polyhydric alcohols withpolyisocyanates, for example the reaction product from 1 mol oftrimethylolpropane and 3 mols of toluylene diisocyanate, and alsotrimerised or polymerised isocyanates such as are described, say, inGerman Patent No. 951,168.

In addition, it is also possible to use a reaction product, having a NCOcontent of 16-17% by weight, formed from 1 mol of water and 3 mols ofhexamethylene diisocyanate. The last-mentioned reaction product fromwater and hexamethylene diisocyanate is particularly preferred. The NCOcontent of the reaction product applies to a 75% strength solution inxylene/ethylglycol acetate.

The reaction of the copolymers A containing hydroxyl groups with theorganic polyisocyanates B when used in reactive lacquers can be carriedout at 0.5 to 1.5 NCO groups per hydroxyl group, depending on the enduse of the reaction products. It is preferable to carry out the reactionin such a way that the quantities of the organic polyisocyanate,relative to the total hydroxyl content of the components present in thereaction mixture, are present in a quantity of 0.7 to 1.0 isocyanategroup per hydroxyl group.

In order to use the new copolymers, the mixtures of copolymers Acontaining solvent and containing hydroxyl groups and of polyisocyanateB are applied to the appropriate substrates in the simplest mannerimaginable, possibly after adding known auxiliaries, such as levellingagents, pigments or dyestuffs, by spraying, dipping, pouring, brushingor other suitable measures, and the sheet-like structures are dried atroom temperature; in special cases, perhaps when using compounds whichsplit off isocyanates, it is possible to stove the coatings; thisdepends essentially on the substrates used and on the requirements setby practical use on the coatings.

The copolymers which can be obtained by the process can be employed,together with polyisocyanates, for the production of coatings orcoverings in the reactive lacquers already illustrated, on substrates ofthe most diverse types, for example porous or non-porous substrates,such as textile non-wovens, leather or plastics. The production ofcoatings on wood or metals should be singled out particularly. In everycase high-gloss, pore-free, elastic and solventresistant coatings whichhave a very hard surface and which can be treated both with stronginorganic acids and with strong alkali metal hydroxide solutions withoutthe coatings being attacked even to the slightest extent, are obtained.Coatings of this type display, in addition, an outstanding resistance toweathering and resistance to yellowing.

In pigmented coating compositions based on the polyisocyanate reactivelacquer/binder solutions according to the invention the total content ofsolids in the coating composition is between 62 90% by weight,preferably between 67 and 90% by weight. The ratio of pigment to bindercan be between 1:20 and 2:1. The following can be added as pigments:inorganic pigments, such as chrome yellow, Prussian blue, Brunswickgreen and titanium pigments, for example titanium dioxide, extendedtitanium pigments (which are extended either with precipitated or withnatural extenders, such as alkaline earth metal sulphates, for examplecalcium sulphate and barium sulphate), tinted titanium pigments andtitanates, such as barium, tin, lead and magnesium titanates. Othertypes of inorganic pigments can also be used, for example zinc sulphidepigments, such as zinc sulphide, lithopone, extended zinc sulphidepigments, such as lithopone on a calcium base, and zinc sulphideextended with natural extenders, zinc oxide or antimony oxide or organicpigments, that is to say organic dyestuffs which are free from sulphonicacid groups, carboxylic acid groups or other groups which impartsolubility in water. Pigments also include, conceptually, otherwater-insoluble organic dyestuffs, for example calcium or barium lakesof azo dyestuffs.

The constituents of the stoving lacquers to be used can be processed togive lacquers by customary processes, preferably as follows. The pigmentand a suitable quantity of solvent are mixed with part of the copolymersaccording to the invention to give a pasty or solid pigment paste. Afterthe mixture has been thoroughly dispersed in a stirred ball mill, theremainder of the copolymer and other additives are added to theresulting paste or dispersion and the mixture is then formulated, usingthe solvents, preferably xylene, butyl acetate and/or ethylglycolacetate or acetone, to a sprayable viscosity at a solids content of 62to 90% by weight, preferably 67 to 90% by weight, of non-volatilesubstances.

EXAMPLE 1

(A) 28 g of ethylglycol acetate (= 21.9% by weight) and (B) 100 g ofcomponent B (= 78.1% by weight, being a mixture of: (a) 11.7 g ofglycidyl esters of α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of thefollowing empirical formula C₁₃ H₂₄ O₃, having an epoxide equivalent of240-250, designated in the following text only as glycidyl esters ofα,α-dialkylmonocarboxylic acids) are heated to 167° C. in a flaskequipped with a stirrer, a reflux condenser and a water separator aswell as a thermometer, and a mixture consisting of (b) 25.5 g ofhydroxyethyl acrylate, (c) 3.3 g of acrylic acid, (d₁) 46.2 g ofstyrene, (d₂) 13.3 g of methyl methacrylate, it being necessary that the% by weight of the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ add up to 100% byweight, (e) 2.7 g of tert.-butyl perbenzoate = 2% by weight and (e') 2.0g of 80% strength cumene hydroperoxide = 1.2% by weight, the % by weightfigures relating to the total mixture of the components A and B, isadded uniformly, at a temperature which rises to 170° C., in the courseof 7 hours, while the mixture boils and the reflux is cooled. After theaddition is complete, polymerisation is continued for a further 2 hoursuntil a solids content of 81.0% by weight is reached. This exampleillustrates the most preferred embodiment of the invention.

The acid number of the solid constituent is 7.5. The viscosity of a 70%strength by weight solution in ethylglycol acetate is Z₂ to Z₃ on theGardner-Holdt scale. When the solution is formulated wih xylene to aviscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mmflow orifice, it has a solids content of 47% by weight. The copolymerhas a hydroxyl group content of 4.5% by weight.

Comparison test according to the state of the art Comparison test 1(with reference to the Example in French Pat. No. 1,556,309, which isthe nearest approach to the invention). The hydroxyl group content,relative to the copolymers, in Examples 1 to 10 in French Patent No.1,556,309 is as follows:

in Example 1 = 0.8% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 2 = 1 % of hydroxyl groups

in Example 3 = 1.26% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 4 = 1.52% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 5 = 1.41% of hydroxy groups

in Example 6 = 1.41% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 7 = 1.66% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 8 = 1.85% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 9 = 1.85% of hydroxyl groups

in Example 10 = 3.18% of hydroxyl groups.

Example 10 in French Patent Specification No. 1,556,309 which has ahydroxyl group content of 3.18%, is the nearest approach to theinvention. The procedure described in Example 10 of French Patent No.1,556,309 is followed.

10 parts by weight of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate,

30 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate,

25 parts by weight of styrene,

15 parts by weight of ethyl acrylate,

20 parts by weight of the reaction product obtained in accordance withreaction (a),

1.3 parts by weight of lauryl mercaptan,

1.5 parts by weight of azobisisobutyronitrile

20 parts by weight of butyl acetate,

20 parts by weight of ethyl acetate,

30 parts by weight of toluene,

10 parts by weight of ethylglycol acetate and

20 parts by weight of xylene

were converted into a copolymer solution. The viscosity of the 50%strength by weight solution is R on the GardnerHoldt scale.

The copolymer solution exhibits a considerable sediment and is alsoturbid. The solid constitutents which had precipitated could be filteredoff by filtration. The turbidity of the resin solution could not beremoved. When the solution is formulated with xylene to a viscosity of25 seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice,it has a solids content of 37% by weight. The copolymer has a hydroxylgroup content of 3.18% by weight.

Comparison test with reference to the state of the art and the inventiveconception of the present invention Comparison test 2

The procedure described in Comparison test 1 is followed, but only themonomers were aligned with Example 1 according to the invention. Thefollowing were used: 25.5% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylate, 13.3% byweight of methyl methacryate, 46.2% by weight of styrene and 15% byweight of reaction product obtained in accordance with reaction (a) ofFrench Patent No. 1,556,309. The copolymer solution exhibited aparticularly strong, milky turbidity which could not be removed byfiltration. The copolymer has a hydroxyl group content of 4.5% byweight. The viscosity of the 50% strength by weight solution was Z at20° C., measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale. When the solution wasformulated with xylene to a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measuredin a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, a solids content of 28% byweight resulted.

Comparison test 3

The procedure described in Example 1 of the present invention wascarried out, but, in divergence, polymerisation was carried out at atemperature of 160° C. and tert.-butyl perbenzoate alone was used. Theviscosity of the 70% strength by weight solution in ethylglycol acetate,measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale, is higher than Z₆. The resinsolution exhibits a turbidity which could not be removed by filtration.When the solution was formulated with xylene to a viscosity of 25seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, asolids content of 38% by weight resulted.

Comparison test 4

The procedure described in Example 1 of the present invention wascarried out, but, in divergence, polymerisation was carried out at atemperature of 160° C. and cumene hydroperoxide alone was used, as an80% strength solution in a mixture of alcohols, ketones and cumene. Theviscosity of the 70% strength by weight solution in ethylglycol acetate,measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale, is higher tha Z₆. The resinsolution exhibits a strong turbidity which cannot be removed byfiltration. When the solution was formulated with xylene to a viscosityof 25 seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm floworifice, a solids content of 34% by weight resulted.

EXAMPLE 2

A. 28 g of ethylglycol acetate = 21.9% by weight and B. 100 g of acomponent B = 78.1% by weight, including (a) 24 g of glycidyl esters, asdescribed in Example 1, are heated to 172° C. in a flask equipped with astirrer, a reflux condenser and a water separator and a thermometer, anda mixture consisting of (b) 19.1g of hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c) 7.2g of acrylic acid, (d₁) 28.1 g of styrene and (d₂) 21.6 g of methylmethacrylate, it being necessary that the % by weight of the componentsa, b, c, d₁ and d₂ add up to 100% by weight, (e) 2.7 g of tert-butylperbenzoate = 2% by weight and e') 2.0 g of 80% strength cumenehydroperoxide = 1.2% by weight, the % by weight figures relating to thetotal mixture of components A and B, is added uniformly in the course of7 hours while the mixture boils and the reflux is simultaneously cooled.After the addition is complete, polymerisation is continued for afurther 2 hours until a solids content of 80% by weight has beenreached. The acid number of the solid component is 11. The viscosity ofthe 70% strength by weight solution in ethylglycol acetate is Y-Z,measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale. When the solution is formulatedwith xylene to give a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measured in aDIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, it has a solids content of 52% byweight. The copolymer has a hydroxyl group content of 4.17% by weight.The copolymer solution contains no insoluble solid constituents and isfree from turbidity.

Preparation of thermoplastic copolymer 1

600 g of toluene, 200 g of ethyl methacrylate, 4 g of acrylic acid and296 g of methyl methacryate are heated to reflux temperature in a flaskequipped with a stirrer and a reflux condenser and a water separator,and the following mixture, consisting of: 150 g of toluene and 3.5 g ofdibenzoyl peroxide, as a 75% strength suspension in water, is addeduniformly in the course of 2 hours. After a polymerisation time of 2hours, a further 2 g of dibenzoyl peroxide, as a 75% strength suspensionin water, are added and polymerisation is continued under reflux. Thesolids content of the solution is 40% by weight. The viscosity of thesolution exhibits a value of X-Y, measured at 25° C. on theGardner-Holdt scale. The acid number is 5.

Preparation of thermoplastic copolymer 2

300 g of xylene, 1.5 g of methacrylic acid and 300 g of methylmethacrylate are heated to 85° C. in a flask equipped with a stirrer anda reflux condenser and a water separator, and the following mixture,consisting of: 50 g of xylene and 2.5 g of dibenzoyl peroxide, as a 75%strength suspension in water, are added uniformly in the course of 3hours. After polymerisation for 2 hours at the same temperature, afurther . . . . g of dibenzoyl peroxide, as a 75% strength suspension inwater, are added and polymerisation is continued for a further 2 hoursuntil the theoretical solids content of 46% by weight has been reached.When the solution is diluted with n-butanol to 40% by weight, it has aviscosity of Z₃ - Z₄, measured at 25° C. in the Gardner-Holdt scale. Theacid number of the polymer is 4.

EXAMPLE 3 Reactive lacquer based on 70% by weight of copolymer and 30%by weight of an organic triisocyanate, both relative to the weight ofsolid.

61.6 g of copolymer 1 solution in ethylglycol acetate (obtainedaccording to Example 1, dissolved solids 81% by weight) are dissolved ina 1:1 mixture of xylene and ethylglycol acetate together with 28.6 g of75% strength by weight solution of a triisocyanate which has a NCOcontent of 16.5 to 17.0% by weight and has been obtained by reacting 3mols of hexamethylene diisocyanate and 1 mol of water. 0.5 g ofdiethylethanolamine is added and thoroughly mixed and the mixture isformulated by adding xylene to a spraying viscosity, namely 25 secondsat 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice. The lacquerwas applied to glass sheets at a wet film layer thickness of 90 μm andwas dried in the air at 18° to 20° C. The pendulum hardness, measured byKonig's method (DIN 53,157), is 60 seconds after one day, 140 secondsafter three days and 180 seconds after seven days. Films which had beenstoved at 80° C. for 30 minutes gave pendulum hardness figures of 102seconds, rising to 180 seconds after being stored for one day at roomtemperature and to 202 seconds after 3 days. Films which had been stovedat 120° for 30 minutes gave pendulum hardness figures of 203 secondswhich did not change further on storage. The cured films wereparticularly insensitive towards the fingernail test and had very goodresistance against xylene and acetone.

After weathering for 18 months in the Florida climate, a top lacquering(pigmented with 0.6 part by weight of rutile: 1part by weight of bindercombination) which had been applied to primed zinc-phosphated steelsheets exhibited a loss of gloss of only 10% compared with glossmeasured before the weathering.

Black lacquers with a particularly high gloss are obtained if 20 partsby weight of carbon black FW 200 together with 270 parts by weight ofcopolymer 1 solution, calcium naphthenate and silicone oil, as a 1%strength solution in xylene, and using a corresponding quantity ofxylene and butyl acetate, are subjected to a grinding process for about30 to 40 minutes, using a sand mill. After adding a further 270 parts byweight of copolymer 1 solution and formulating the mixture withxylene/ethylglycol acetate in the proportions of 1:1 to a viscosity of25 seconds in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, lacquers which arestable to flocculation for several months are obtained. A reactivelacquer based on 70% by weight of copolymer and 30 % by weight of anorganic triisocyanate which has been obtained by reacting 3 mols ofhexamethylene diisocyanate and 1 mol of water, is prepared. Coatingswhich have been produced therewith and which are stoved at 80° C. for 30minutes give films with an insensitive surface, so that in the repairlacquering of vehicles the adhesive masking tapes can be removed whilethe films are in on incompletely cooled condition and assembly can becarried out. After storing for 8 hours at 23° C., the pot life of aclear lacquer combination prepared from copolymer 1 ethylglycol acetatesolution and the triisocyanate and formulated with xylene to aviscosity, of 25 seconds, is such that the viscosity is 40 seconds,measured at 25° C. in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice. The resultof this is that the binder combination can be used throughout a workingday of at least 8 hours, since a doubling of viscosity to 50 seconds istolerated by the lacquer user.

EXAMPLE 4 Reactive lacquer based on 70% by weight of copolymer and 30%by weight of an organic triisocyanate, both relative to the weight ofsolids.

62.5 g of copolymer 2 ethylglycol acetate solution (obtained accordingto Example 2, dissolved solids 80% by weight) are dissolved in a 1:1mixture of xylene and ethylglycol acetate together with 28.6 g of a 75%strength by weight solution of a triisocyanate which has a NCO contentof 16.5-17.0% by weight and which has been obtained by reacting 3 molsof hexamethylene diisocyanate and 1 mol of water, and 0.5 ofdiethylethanolamine is mixed in and the mixture is formulated withxylene to a spraying viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measured in aDIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, and is applied to glass sheets at awet film layer thickness of 90 μm and dried in the air at 18° to 20° C.The pendulum hardness, measured by Konig's method (DIN 53,157), is 45seconds after one day, 110 seconds after three days and 160 secondsafter seven days. Films which had been stoved at 80° C. for 30 minutesgave pendulum hardness figures of 75 seconds, rising after storage at23° C. for one day to 130 seconds and to 162 seconds after four days.Films which have been stoved at 120° C. for 30 minutes gave pendulumhardness figures of 165 seconds which did not change further on storage.The cured films were particularly insensitive towards premium-grademotor fuels and xylene.

After 16 months weathering in the Florida climate, a top lacquering(pigmented with 0.65 part by weight of rutile:

1 part by weight of binder combination) which had been applied toprimed, zinc-phosphated steel sheets gave a loss of gloss of only 12%compared with gloss measured before the weathering.

Further comparative tests to demonstrate the technical progress achievedAssessment of the appearance of the copolymer solutions

The resin solutions are assessed for the flocculation of solid,insoluble constituents and for turbidity in the resin solutions. Astests have shown, the solid, insoluble constituents can be filtered off.Turbidity in the resin solutions is not removed by filtration (see Table1).

1 = clear solution (highest value) 5 = very strong, milky turbidity(lowest value)

0 = no flocculation

+ = flocculation of solid constituents

As the results in Table 1 show, the copolymer solution manufacturedaccording to the invention is markedly superior to the known copolymersolutions.

Preparation of black top lacquers and assessment of the gloss of thefilms

With the aid of a sand mill, grinding for a period of about 60 minutes,a lacquer is prepared from the following components:

270 g of copolymer solution manufactured according to the invention,from Example 1,

20 g of carbon black, described in Messrs. Degussa's leaflet FW 200,

4 g of diethylethanolamine,

10 g of silicone oil, described in Messrs. Bayer's leaflet Silikonol L050, as a 1% strength solution in xylene,

10 g of calcium naphthenate, liquid with a 4% calcium content,

65 g of butyl acetate and

70 g of xylene.

After adding a further 270 g of copolymer solution manufacturedaccording to the invention, in accordance with Example 1, and dilutingwith a solvent mixture composed of equal parts by weight of xylene andbutyl acetate to a flow viscosity of 23 seconds at 20° C., measured in aDIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, the lacquer is poured onto verticalglass sheets and the degree of gloss is tested after the solvent hasevaporated. High-gloss films are obtained which exhibit no deposition ofpigment in the range between 1 and 10 μm. The proportion by weight ofbinder to pigment is 95.6% by weight of binder to 4.4% by weight ofpigment. The pigmentation and the draining off are carried out in anidentical manner for the copolymers in Comparison tests 1, 2, 3 and 4and the gloss and the deposition of pigment of the lacquers areassessed. As the results in Table 1 show, the copolymer solutionmanufactured according to the invention is superior to the knowncopolymer solutions.

1 = high-gloss films with no deposition of pigment (highest value)

5 = matt films and very considerable deposition of pigment (lowestvalue)

Testing the compatibility of the copolymer solutions according to theinvention, of Example 1 and 2, and the Comparison tests 1 and 2, withthe thermoplastic copolymers 1 and 2

62 parts by weight of the copolymer solution obtained according toExample 1, consisting of 50 parts by weight of copolymer and 12 parts byweight of ethylglycol acetate, are mixed with 125 parts by weight of thethermoplastic copolymer solution 1, consisting of 50 parts by weight ofthermoplastic copolymer and 75 parts by weight of toluene, and themixture is diluted with a solvent mixture consisting of xylene and butylacetate in a 1:1 ratio by weight to a solids content of 40% by weightand is applied to glass sheets, a dry film layer thickness of 250 to 300μm being achieved. After drying at room temperature, the appearance andthe compatibility of the films were investigated. This mixture consistsof 50% by weight of copolymer 1 according to the invention and 50% byweight of the thermoplastic copolymer 1. The copolymer solutionsmanufactured according to the invention, of Example 1 and 2, and thecopolymers from Comparison tests 1 and 2 were mixed with thethermoplastic copolymers 1 and 2 in the manner described above and themixtures were applied to glass sheets and the resulting films wereassessed. As the results in Table 2 show, the copolymer solutionsmanufactured according to the invention are markedly superior to theknown copolymer solutions.

Test for appearance of film:

1 = high-gloss (highest value)

5 = very cloudy film (lowest value)

Testing the pot life of reactive lacquers

86.6 g of the copolymer solution manufactured according to theinvention, of Example 1, and 40 g of a 75% strength by weight solutionof a triisocyanate which contains biuret groups and has a NCO content of16.5 to 17.0% by weight and has been obtained by reacting three mols ofhexamethylene diisocyanate and one mol of water, are mixed and arediluted with xylene to a flow viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C.,measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, and the rise inviscosity is determined after 6 hours storage at 23° C. The mixing ratiois 70% by weight of the copolymer manufactured according to theinvention, from Example 1, and 30% by weight of the triisocyanate whichcontains biuret groups.

A comparison combination is composed of 70% by weight of copolymer fromComparison test 2 and 30% by weight of the triisocyanate which containsbiuret groups.

A further comparison combination is composed of 77% by weight ofcopolymer from Comparison test 1 and 23% by weight of the triisocyanatewhich contains biuret groups, as described in French Patent No.1,556,309.

The viscosity is adjusted in the same way, using the solvent mixturedescribed above. As the results in Table 3 show, the reactive lacquersaccording to the invention are markedly superior to the known reactivelacquers, since they have a longer application life.

Preparation of pigmented two-component reactive lacquers and testing thetendency of the stoved films to run off

The ratio in the combination is 65% by weight of copolymer manufacturedaccording to the invention and 35% by weight of triisocyanate containingbiuret groups. The proportion by weight of pigment: binder is 42% byweight: 58% by weight.

A lacquer paste is prepared by grinding in a ball mill for 24 hours fromthe following components: 80 g of copolymer solution manufacturedaccording to the invention of Example 1, 73 g of titanium dioxide(rutile), 0.5 g of diethylethanolamine, 2.5 g of silicone oil, describedin Messrs. Bayer's leaflet Silikonol L 050, as a 1% strength solution inxylene, 2 g of calcium naphthenate, liquid with a 4% calcium content,4.5 g of Bentone-38 paste, as a 10% strength by weight solution inxylene/methyl isobutyl ketone in the proportions by weight of 86:4,described in Messrs. Kronos Titan's leaflet, and a solvent mixtureconsisting of xylene and ethylglycol acetate in the proportion of 1:1 byweight. To this mixture are added 46.6 g of 75% strength by weightsolution of a triisocyanate which contains biuret groups and has a NCOcontent of 16.5 to 17.0% by weight and has been obtained by reacting 3mols of hexamethylene diisocyanate and one mol of water, and which isdissolved in a mixture of xylene and ethylglycol acetate. This mixtureis then diluted with a mixtutre of xylene, butyl acetate and ethylglycolacetate in the proportions of 1:1:1 by weight, to a flow viscosity of 22seconds at 23° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice.This reactive lacquer is applied by the spray application process tovertical steel sheets in such a way that dry film layer thicknesses of80 μm are achieved. The time of exposure to air between individual sprayapplications should be at most 30 seconds to one minute. After the sprayapplication has been carried out, the material is exposed to the air forapprox. 5 minutes and the lacquer film is stoved at 120° C. for 30minutes.

1. Comparison test of the tendency to run off

The ratio in the combination is 77% by weight of copolymer fromComparison test 1 and 23% by weight of triisocyanate containing biuretgroups. The proportion by weight of pigment: binder is 42% by weight:58% by weight.

2. Comparison test of the tendency to run off

The ratio in the combination is 65% by weight of copolymer fromComparison test 2 and 35% by weight of triisocyanate containing biuretgroups. The proportion by weight of pigment: binder is 42% by weight:58% by weight.

The pigmentation and the spray application to vertical steel sheets arecarried out in the same way for the above Comparison tests 1 and 2 asfor the copolymer 1 manufactured according to the invention anddescribed above. The films are stoved at 120° C. for 30 minutes. As canbe seen from Table 3, the reactive lacquers manufactured according tothe invention are markedly superior to the known reactive lacquers byvirtue of lower tendency to run off.

Further comparison tests with reactive lacquers based on the copolymersolutions according to the invention and polyisocyanates, in comparisonwith the known reactive lacquers of French Patent No. 1,556,309

A reactive lacquer composed of 70% by weight of copolymer, whichcorresponds to 86.6 g of the copolymer solution manufactured accordingto the invention, of Example 1, and 30% by weight of triisocyanate,which corresponds to 40 g of a 75% strength by weight solution of atriisocyanate which has been prepared from 3 mols of hexamethylenediisocyanate and one mol of water and which has a NCO content of 16.5 to17.0% by weight and which is dissolved in a mixture of xylene andethylglycol acetate, is diluted with acetone to a flow viscosity of 40seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a flow orifice of 4 mm.The solids content of this dilute resin solution is determined byevaporating it at 120° C. for 60 minutes.

The resin solution is applied by spraying to a steel sheet using one anda half cross-coats, the material being exposed to the air for approx. 1minute between each cross-coat. After the lacquered steel sheet has beenexposed to the air for a time of 5 minutes, it is stoved at 120° C. for30 minutes. A smooth, blister-free and crater-free lacquer with a dryfilm layer thickness of 70 to 80 μm was obtained.

A reactive lacquer composed of 70% by weight of copolymer, whichcorresponds to 87.6 g of the copolymer solution according to theinvention, of Example 2, and 30% by weight of triisocyanate, whichcorresponds to 40 g of the triisocyanate described above, is made up bymixing and is diluted as described above, its solids content isdetermined and it is used to lacquer a steel sheet. After stoving, thelacquered steel sheet has a dry film layer thickness of 70 to 80 μm andexhibits no craters or blisters.

A reactive lacquer composed of 82.0% by weight of copolymer 1, whichcorresponds to 61.8 g of the copolymer solution according to theinvention, from Example 1, and 18.0% by weight, corresponding to 11 g,of 3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate, is made upby mixing and is diluted with acetone, as described above, to the sameviscosity, its solids content is determined and it is used, as describedabove, to lacquer a steel sheet. After stoving, the lacquered steelsheet exhibits no formation of craters or blisters and has a smoothsurface at a dry film layer thickness of 70 to 80 μm.

A reactive lacquer composed of 82.0% by weight of copolymer 2, whichcorresponds to 62.5 g of the copolymer solution manufactured accordingto the invention, of Example 2, and 18.0 % by weight, corresponding to11 g, of 3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate is madeup by mixing and, as described above, is diluted with acetone to theviscosity described above. The solids content of the resin solution wasdetermined and a steel sheet was lacquered and stoved as indicatedabove. The lacquered sheet had a dry film layer thickness of 80 μm andgave a smooth, craterfree and blister-free surface.

The known reactive lacquers having the percentages by weight indicatedin Table 4 are diluted with acetone in the same way to a flow viscosityof 40 seconds at 25° C., measured in a DIN cup having a 4 mm floworifice. The resin solutions are also applied by spraying, at one and ahalf cross-coats, the material being exposed to the air in each case forapprox. 1 minute after every half cross-coat. After the reactivelacquers have been applied, the material is exposed to the air for 5minutes and stoved at 120° C. for 30 minutes. At first, only filmshaving a dry film layer thickness of 40 to 50 μm were obtained. Thesurface exhibited many craters and blisters. If it is desired to reachlayer thicknesses of the dry film of 70 to 80 μm with the known reactivelacquers, the spray applications process must be increased to two and ahalf to three cross-coats. The films which were then stoved exhibited aneven more strongly marked formation of blisters and craters than thefilms having lower dry film layer thicknesses. In addition, the solidscontent of the dilute resin solutions was determined as described above.

Additional advantages for the copolymer solutions according to theinvention emerge clearly from these comparison tests.

    __________________________________________________________________________    Table 1                                                                       Comparison tests on the copolymers                                                          Example 1                                                                     according                                                                     to the                                                                              Comparison                                                                           Comparison                                                                           Comparison                                                                           Comparison                                         invention                                                                           test 1 test 2 test 3 test 4                               __________________________________________________________________________    Determination of the                                                          solids content of the                                                                       81%   50%    50%    80%    80%                                  copolymer solutions at                                                        120° C./60 minutes                                                     Appearance                                                                           Turbidity                                                                            1     2-3    4      3      5                                    of the Flocculation                                                           copolymer                                                                            of solid                                                                             0     +      0      0      0                                    solutions                                                                            constituents                                                           Solids content, deter-                                                        mined at 120° C./60                                                    minutes, of the resin                                                         solutions diluted with                                                        xylene to a flow vis-                                                                       47%   37%    28%    38%    34%                                  cosity of 25 seconds at                                                       25° C., measured in a DIN                                              cup having a 4 mm flow                                                        orifice                                                                       Viscosity, measured at            the viscosity                                                                        the viscosity                        23° C. on the Gardner-     is higher                                                                            is higher                            Holdt scale, of the                                                                         Z.sub.2                                                                             --     --     than Z.sub.6                                                                         than Z.sub.6                         resin solutions diluted                                                       with ethylglycol acetate                                                      to 70% solids content                                                         Assessment of gloss and                                                       pigment deposition for                                                                      1     2-3    5      3      5                                    black top lacquer                                                             __________________________________________________________________________    Table 2                                                                       Testing the copolymers according to the invention, of Examples 1 and 2,       and the comparison                                                            copolymers 1 and 2 for compatability with the thermoplastic copolymers 1      and 2                                                                                      50% by weight               50% by weight                                     of the copolymer 1                                                                      50% by weight                                                                          50% by weight                                                                          of the copolymer 2                                according to the                                                                        of the copolymer                                                                       of the copolymer                                                                       according to the                                  invention, in                                                                           in the comparison                                                                      in the comparison                                                                      invention, in                                     Example 1 copolymer 1                                                                            copolymer 2                                                                            Example 2                            __________________________________________________________________________    50% by weight of the                                                          thermoplastic copolymer 1                                                                  1         2-3      4-5      1                                    50% by weight of the                                                          thermoplastic copolymer 2                                                                  1         2-3      4-5      1                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Testing for film appearance:? L6 1=high-gloss film (highest value)            5=matt film (lowest value)?                                              

                                      Table 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Comparison tests on reactive lacquers composed of combinations of the         copolymers of Example 1                                                       according to the invention and the comparison tests 1 and 2, with             triisocyanate                                                                                70% by weight of                                                              copolymer 1                                                                             77% by weight of                                                                          70% by weight of                                        according to the                                                                        copolymer from                                                                            copolymer from                                          invention and 30%                                                                       comparison copoly-                                                                        comparison copoly-                                      by weight of tri-                                                                       mer 1 and 23% by                                                                          mer 2 and 30% by                                        isocyanate con-                                                                         weight of triiso-                                                                         weight of triiso-                                       taining biuret                                                                          cyanate containing                                                                        cyanate containing                                      groups    biuret groups                                                                             biuret groups                            __________________________________________________________________________    After stoving at 120° C. for                                                          slight swelling                                                                         fairly strong                                                                             slight swelling                          30 minutes, the films are                                                                              swelling                                             tested with acetone by means                                                  of a cotton wool pad, with an                                                 exposure of 5 minutes                                                         Determination of the pot life                                                                increase in visco-                                                                      increase in visco-                                                                        increase in visco-                       at 23° C. after storage for                                                           sity to 30 seconds                                                                      sity to 45 seconds                                                                        sity to 95 seconds                       6 hours                                                                       Test of run-off tendency and                                                                 at a dry film layer                                                                     at a dry film layer                                                                       at a dry film layer                      crater-formation in the lac-                                                                 thickness of 80 μm,                                                                  thickness of 50 to                                                                        thickness of 40 to                       quer combinations which are                                                                  no run-off tendency                                                                     60 μm, considerable                                                                    50 μm, considerable                   pigmented with titanium di-                                                                  and no crater-                                                                          run-off tendency, at                                                                      run-off tendency,                        oxide and stoved at 120  C.                                                                  formation 70 to 80 μm, consider-                                                                 at 50 to 60 μm,                       for 30 minutes           able crater-formation                                                                     considerable crater-                                                          formation                                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      Table 4                                     __________________________________________________________________________                    Solids content                                                                in % by weight                                                                         Appearance, after stoving,                                           of the diluted                                                                         of the films obtained from                                           resin solutions                                                                        the reactive lacquer                                 __________________________________________________________________________    Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 70-80 μm, no blister-                          70% by weight of copolymer                                                                             ing or crater-formation                              manufactured according to the                                                                 67.5                                                          invention, from Example 1,                                                    and 30% by weight of triiso-                                                  cyanate                                                                       Reactive lacquer composed of                                                  70% by weight of copolymer                                                    manufactured according to the                                                                 70.2     at 70-80 μm, no blister-                          invention, from Example 2,                                                                             ing or crater-formation                              and 30% by weight of triiso-                                                  cyanate                                                                       Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 70-80 μm, no blister-                          82.0% by weight of copolymer                                                                           ing or crater-formation                              manufactured according to the                                                                 68                                                            invention, from Example 1,                                                    and 18.0% by weight of iso-                                                   phorone diisocyanate.sup.+                                                    Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 70-80 μm, no blister-                          82.0% by weight of copolymer                                                                           ing or crater-formation                              manufactured according to the                                                                 72                                                            invention, from Example 2,                                                    and 18.0% by weight of iso-                                                   phorone diisocyanate .sup.+                                                   Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 40-50 μm, blistering                           77% by weight of comparison                                                                   52       and crater-formation;                                copolymer 1 and 23% by weight                                                                          at 70-80 μm, increased                            of triisocyanate         blistering and crater-                                                        formation                                            Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 40-50 μm, considerable                         70% by weight of comparison                                                                   47       blistering and crater-                               copolymer 2 and 30% by weight                                                                          formation; at 70-80 μm,                           of triisocyanate         the whole film is full                                                        of blisters and craters                              Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 40-50 μm, blistering                           85.7% by weight of comparison                                                                          and crater-formation;                                copolymer 1 and 14.3% by                                                                      52.5     at 70-80 μm, increased                            weight of isophorone diiso-                                                                            blistering and crater-                               cyanate .sup.+           formation                                            Reactive lacquer composed of                                                                           at 40-50 μm, considerable                         82.0% by weight of comparison                                                                          blistering and crater-                               copolymer 2 and 18.0% by                                                                      48       formation; at 70-80 μm,                           weight of isophorone diiso-                                                                            75% of the film is full                              cyanate .sup.+           of blisters and craters                              __________________________________________________________________________    As can be seen from Table 4, the reactive lacquers manufactured accord-       ing to the invention are superior to the known reactive                       __________________________________________________________________________    lacquers.                                                                      .sup.+  3-Isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate          

I claim:
 1. Copolymer solution consisting of A) 10 to 30% by weight ofinert organic solvent and B) 70 to 90% by weight of copolymers whichhave been manufactured by heating to 150° to 180° C., in the presence ofmixtures of diacyl peroxides or peresters and alkyl hydroperoxides ordialkyl peroxides as the polymerisation initiators, a mixture of inertsolvents having a boiling range of 150° to 180° C. and the component tobe esterified, that is to say a) 5- 24% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃, or a mixtureof glycidyl esters of α, α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids having acontent up to about 10 percent by weight of the mixture of glycidylesters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the said empiricalformula, the mixture having an epoxide equivalent of 240 to 250, withthe slow, uniform addition of b) 12- 30% by weight of hydroxyethylacrylate and/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, c) 1- 10% by weight ofacrylic acid, d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene and d₂) 5- 35% by weightof methyl methacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ having beenemployed in such quantities that their sum adds up to 100% by weight andthe polymerisation and condensation reactions proceeding simultaneouslyand jointly and the additional condition applying that the components a,b and c have been employed in such quantities that the copolymers have ahydroxyl group content of 3.5 to 6.5% by weight, it being necessary thatthe components A and B add up to 100% by weight.
 2. Copolymer solutionaccording to Claim 1, characterised in that a 70% strength by weightsolution of the copolymer in ethylglycol acetate has a viscosity,measured at 25° C., of U to Z₄ measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale, anda solution formulated with xylene to a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25°C., measured with a DIN cyp having a 4 mm flow orifice, has a solidscontent of 40 to 65% by weight.
 3. Copolymer solution according to Claim1, characterised in that a 70% strength by weight solution of thecopolymer in ethylglycol acetate has a viscosity, measured at 25° C., ofX to Z₃ on the Gardner-Holdt scale and a solution formulated with xyleneto a viscosity of 25 seconds at 25° C., measured with a DIN cup having a4 mm flow orifice, has a solids content of 45 to 65% by weight. 4.Copolymer solution according to Claim 1, consisting of A) 20 to 25% byweight of inert organic solvent and B) 75 to 80% by weight of copolymerswhich have been manufactured by heating to 150° to 180° C., in thepresence of mixtures of tert.-butyl perbenzoate and cumene hydroperoxideas the polymerisation initiators, a mixture of inert solvents having aboiling range of 150° to 180° C. and the components to be esterified,that is to say a) 11- 12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃, with theslow, uniform addition of b) 25- 26% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylateand/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, c) 3- 4% by weight of acrylic acid,d₁) 44- 48% by weight of styrene and d₂) 10- 16% by weight of methylmethacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ having been employed insuch quantities that their sum adds up to 100% by weight and thepolymerisation and condensation reactions proceeding simultaneously andjointly and the additional condition applying that the components a, band c have been employed in such quantities that the copolymers have ahydroxyl group content of 4.5 ±0.3% by weight, it being necessary thatthe components A and B add up to 100% by weight.
 5. Copolymer solutionaccording to Claim 1, characterised in that a 70% strength by weightsolution of the copolymer in ethylglycol acetate has a viscosity,measured at 25° C., of Z₂ to Z₃, measured on the Gardner-Holdt scale,and a solution formulated with xylene to a viscosity of 25 seconds at25° C., measured with a DIN cup having a 4 mm flow orifice, has a solidscontent of 47% by weight.
 6. Process for the manufacture, in organicsolvents, of copolymers which are soluble in organic solvents, bycopolymerisation of alkyl acrylates, hydroxyalkyl acrylates, styrene andan α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid with simultaneous esterification byglycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/orα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids, by heating in the presence ofpolymerisation initiators, characterised in that a mixture consisting of(A) 10 to 30% by weight of inert organic solvents which are customary inthe lacquer industry and (B) 90 to 70% by weight of a reaction mixtureconsisting of the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ is reacted, the inertorganic solvent and the components to be esterified, that is to say (a)5-24% by weight of glycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acidsand/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empiricalformula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ +), being heated to 165° to 180° C. and amixture consisting of (b) 12-30% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylateand/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c) 1-10% by weight of acrylic acid,(d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene and (d₂) 5-35% by weight of methylmethacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ being employed in suchquantities that their sum adds up to 100% by weight, being added slowlyand uniformly, in the presence of mixtures of diacyl peroxides orperesters and alkyl hydroperoxides or dialkyl peroxides as thepolymerisation initiators, and, in the course thereof, the temperaturebeing kept between 165° C. at the start and 180° C. at the end, untilthe solids content of the solution has reached the theoretical value ofbetween 70 and 80% by weight, the polymerisation and condensationreactions proceeding simultaneously and jointly and the additionalcondition applying that the components a, b and c are employed in suchquantities that the copolymers have a hydroxyl group content of 3.5 to6.5% by weight. .sup.(+) Preferably a mixture of glycidyl esters ofα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids having a minor content (up toabout 10% by weight of the mixture) of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the said empirical formula, themixture having an epoxide equivalent of 240 to
 250. 7. Process accordingto claim 6, characterised in that a mixture consisting of (A) 10 to 25%by weight of ethylglycol acetate and (B) 90 to 75% by weight of areaction mixture consisting of the components a to d₂ is reacted, thecomponent to be esterified, that is to say (a) 10-24% by weight ofglycidyl esters of α-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/orα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ .sup.(+), being heated with the ethylglycol acetate to165° to 180° C. and a mixture consisting of (b) 18-26% by weight ofhydroxyethyl acrylate and/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c) 2-9% byweight of acrylic acid, (d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene, (d₂) 10-35% byweight of methyl methacrylate, (e) 1-3.5% by weight of dibenzoylperoxide or tert.-butyl peroctoate or tert.-butyl perbenzoate and (e')1-3% by weight of cumene hydroperoxide or di-tert.-butyl peroxide, thecomponents a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ being employed in such quantities thattheir sum adds up to 100% by weight, being added slowly and uniformlyand, in the course thereof, the temperature being kept between 165° C.at the start and 175° C. at the end, until the solids content of thesolution has reached the theoretical value of between 75 and 90% byweight, the polymerisation and condensation reactions proceeding jointlyand simultaneously and the additional condition applying that thecomponents a, b and c are employed in such quantities that thecopolymers have a hydroxyl group content of 4 to 5.5% by weight. 8.Process according to claim 6, characterised in that a mixture consistingof (A) 15-25% by weight of ethylglycol acetate and (B) 85-75% by weightof a reaction mixture consisting of the components a to d₂ is reacted,the component to be esterified, that is to say (a) 10-24% by weight ofglycidyl esters of α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of thefollowing empirical formula C₁₃ H₂₄ O₃ .sup.(+) which have been obtainedby reacting propylene trimer, carbon monoxide and water and consistalmost exclusively of monocarboxylic acids having highly branched C₁₀chains, being heated with the ethylglycol acetate to 165° to 175° C. anda mixture consisting of (b) 18-26% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylateand/or hydroxyethylmethacrylate, (c) 2-9% by weight of acrylic acid,(d₁) 20-50% by weight of styrene, (d₂) 10-35% by weight of methylmethacrylate, (e) 1-3% by weight of tert.-butyl perbenzoate and (e')1-2.5% by weight of cumene hydroperoxide, dissolved to form an 80%strength solution in a mixture of alcohols, ketones and cumene, it beingnecessary that the sum of the monomers a to d₂ adds up to 100% byweight, being added slowly and uniformly in the course of 6 to 10 hoursand, in the course thereof, the temperature being kept at 170°± 5° C.,until the solids content of the solution has reached the theoreticalvalue of between 75 and 85% by weight, the polymerisation andcondensation reactions proceeding jointly and simultaneously and thecopolymers having a hydroxyl group content of 4 to 5.5% by weight. 9.Process according to claim 6, characterised in that a mixture consistingof (A) 20 to 25% by weight of inert organic solvents which are customaryin the lacquer industry and (B) 75 to 80% by weight of a reactionmixture consisting of the components a, b, c, d₁ and d₂ is reacted, theinert organic solvent and the components to be esterified, that is tosay (a) 11-12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα-alkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids and/or α,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylicacids of the following empirical formula C₁₂₋₁₄ H₂₀₋₂₆ O₃ .sup.(+),being heated to 165° to 180° C. and a mixture consisting of (b) 25-26%by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylate and/or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, (c)3-4% by weight of acrylic acid, (d₁) 44-48% by weight of styrene and(d₂) 10-16% by weight of methyl methacrylate, the components a, b, c, d₁and d.sub. 2 being employed in such quantities that their sum adds up to100% by weight, being added slowly and uniformly, in the presence ofmixtures of tert.-butyl perbenzoate and cumene hydroperoxide as thepolymerisation initiators, and, in the course thereof, the temperaturebeing kept between 165° C. at the start and 180° C. at the end, untilthe solids content of the solution has reached the value of 80± 1% byweight, the polymerisation and condensation reactions proceedingsimultaneously and jointly, so that the copolymers have a hydroxyl groupcontent of 4.5± 0.3% by weight.
 10. Process according to claim 6,characterised in that a mixture consisting of (A) 20-25% by weight ofethylglycol acetate and (B) 75-80% by weight of a reaction mixture ofthe components a to d₂ is reacted, the component to be esterified, thatis to say (a) 11-12% by weight of glycidyl esters ofα,α-dialkylalkanemonocarboxylic acids of the following empirical formulaC₁₃ H₂₄ O₃ .sup.(+), which have been obtained by reacting propylenetrimer, carbon monoxide and water and consist almost exclusively ofmonocarboxylic acids having highly branched C₁₀ chains, being heatedwith the ethylglycol acetate to 165° to 170° C. and a mixture consistingof (b) 25- 26% by weight of hydroxyethyl acrylate and/or hydroxyethylmethacrylate, (c) 3- 4% by weight of acrylic acid, (d₁) 44- 48% byweight of styrene, (d₂) 10-16% by weight of methyl methacrylate, (e) 2-2.5% by weight of tert.-butyl perbenzoate and (e') 1- 1.5% by weight ofcumene hydroperoxide, dissolved to form an 80% strength solution in amixture of alcohols, ketones and cumene, it being necessary that the sumof the monomers a to d₂ adds up to 100% by weight, being added slowlyand uniformly in the course of 6 to 10 hours and, in the course thereof,the temperature being kept at 170°± 5° C., until the solids content ofthe solution has reached a value of 80± 1% by weight, the polymerisationand condensation reactions proceeding jointly and simultaneously and thecopolymers having a hydroxyl group content of 4.5± 0.3% by weight.